Rural New England: Architecture in the Round

By Dan Steinhoff
Published on May 1, 1985
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This barn is noted as being the first large round stone barn built in this country. It's a Shaker round stone barn that is now part of the Hancock Shaker Village Museum (actually in Hancock, Mass, but served by Pittsfield, Mass.). It was used as a prototype by other farmers and promoted by several agricultural colleges, resulting in construction of round barns in most of the states and in Canada.
This barn is noted as being the first large round stone barn built in this country. It's a Shaker round stone barn that is now part of the Hancock Shaker Village Museum (actually in Hancock, Mass, but served by Pittsfield, Mass.). It was used as a prototype by other farmers and promoted by several agricultural colleges, resulting in construction of round barns in most of the states and in Canada.
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The Shaker barn has three entrances – one at grade level for cattle, one ramping up from grade to a second floor, and one descending from grade so that a team of horses and wagon can drive completely around the building and exit at the point of entry, That is, one drive-way is above the cattle floor and one drive-way is below the cattle floor.
The Shaker barn has three entrances – one at grade level for cattle, one ramping up from grade to a second floor, and one descending from grade so that a team of horses and wagon can drive completely around the building and exit at the point of entry, That is, one drive-way is above the cattle floor and one drive-way is below the cattle floor.
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The one-room schoolhouse in Brookline, Vermont. It has an ample combination woodshed, horse shed (as many students rode to school), and a boys’ and girls’ room. The interior is in very good condition, well heated by a wood stove. The exterior brick is in good condition, and one could say the building is good for may years to come.
The one-room schoolhouse in Brookline, Vermont. It has an ample combination woodshed, horse shed (as many students rode to school), and a boys’ and girls’ room. The interior is in very good condition, well heated by a wood stove. The exterior brick is in good condition, and one could say the building is good for may years to come.
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Engine magazines are devoted to old round gears, flywheels, band wheels, bull wheels, and drive wheels and they are interesting; however, a change now and then reates thought – especially if they are old, odd, rural and round. So read on about a few New England oddities and the persons related thereto:

  • The round stone barn near Pittsfield, Mass., designed and built in 1825-26 by a group of (at that time) advanced agriculturalists and proud craftsmen.
  • At Brookline, Vermont, a round schoolhouse designed and built in 1821-22 by a local well-respected medical doctor with a hidden past.
  • At Richmond, Vermont, the one and only round non-denominational church designed and built by a native farmer carpenter in 1813.
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